Echelon · Folding Rower Review
Echelon Row Smart Folding Review
The Echelon Row Smart Folding is the sensible way into Echelon’s connected rowing, near-silent, folds away, and uses your own tablet instead of a built-in screen, at a fraction of the Row-7s.
Echelon Row Smart Folding
Folding connected rower
Price and any code applied at checkout via Echelon
The verdict
The folding Echelon Row offers the same 32-level magnetic resistance and handlebar controls as the Echelon Row-7s, but folds for storage and uses your own tablet with the Echelon Fit app. At £599, down from £999, with a 4.9-star retailer rating, it is a lot of connected, foldable rower for the money.
The one thing to understand before buying is that it has no standalone display, you use the app on your device to see metrics and follow classes. If you are happy training with your phone in the holder, it keeps the price down sharply versus the screen-equipped Row-7s.
Strengths
- Near-silent 32-level magnetic resistance
- Folds vertically with built-in wheels for storage
- Bluetooth handlebar controller adjusts resistance mid-stroke
- USB charging port and reversible tablet holder
- Uses 85% of your muscles, low-impact
- 45-day free Echelon Premier Membership included
Watch-outs
- No built-in monitor, you need your own device to see metrics
- Full class features rely on an Echelon subscription
- Magnetic feel is less dynamic than air or water
Folding and feel
The folding mechanism is the Row’s headline feature and it works well, a quick-release joint folds the rail vertically, and built-in wheels move it aside, so it suits flats and shared rooms that cannot give up permanent floor space. Once unfolded it clicks back solid and stable even during vigorous rowing.
The 32-level magnetic resistance is near-silent, a real advantage over air and water rowers if noise carries in your home, and the handlebar controller lets you change resistance without breaking stroke.
The app and the monitor catch
This is the machine’s one real compromise. There is no built-in screen or even a basic monitor, so you run the Echelon Fit app on your own phone or tablet to see your time, distance and resistance, and to follow classes. A 45-day Premier trial is included, and the app syncs to Strava, Apple Health and Fitbit.
If you are happy training with your phone in the holder, this keeps the price down sharply versus the Row-7s. If you want to glance at metrics without a device, it will frustrate you.
Who it is for
Buy the Echelon Row if you want quiet, foldable connected rowing and are happy using your own tablet with the app. It is excellent value against the Row-7s. If you want metrics without reaching for a phone, or no subscription, a rower with a built-in console suits you better.
Specifications
| Resistance | 32 levels, computer-controlled magnetic |
|---|---|
| Controls | Quick resistance controller on handlebar |
| Display | None built in, uses Echelon Fit app on your device |
| Extras | USB charging port, reversible tablet holder |
| Apps | Echelon Fit; syncs Strava, Apple Health, Fitbit |
| Storage | Folds vertically, built-in wheels |
| Membership | 45-day free Echelon Premier trial included |
FitRank breakdown
Performance 4.2
Near-silent 32-level magnetic resistance with mid-stroke handlebar control, smooth and quiet for a flat or shared home.
Build quality 4.3
Well-made folding frame with a solid quick-release joint that stays stable in use, and built-in wheels.
Value 4.5
The strongest pillar. Nearly all of the Row-7s experience, minus the screen, at less than a third of the price.
Features 4.2
Handlebar controls, app classes and third-party syncing are all here. It loses points only for having no standalone display.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Echelon Row have a screen?
Is the Echelon Row quiet?
Does the Echelon Row fold?
Do you need a subscription for the Echelon Row?
Related rowing machines
Compare it against the field in our best home rowing machines guide. You might also consider the Echelon Row-7s and the Viavito Sumi.
Chris writes the home fitness reviews across our sites, including our sister site HomeTreadmill.co.uk. He compares every machine against its rivals on UK pricing and specs, and scores each one with FitRank.
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never affects our FitRank score. See our affiliate disclosure.